Door structure



W. A. BEAUCHAMP DooR STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 s .M L. .4 a 4 L. F

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Patented Apr. 2l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR STRUCTURE of Ohio Application November 19, 1934, Serial No. 753,619

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to doors and more particularly to hinged doors for refrigerator cars, L. C. L. containers and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide 5 swinging doors capableY of easy opening and closing movement which shall effectively seal the door opening in which said doors are received while obviating` the need of door operating mech anism commonly utilized with such doors.

A further object is to provide swinging doors in which direct entry of the elements through the doors is avoided.

A further object is to provide a closure embodying a plurality of hinged doors disposed in lateral overlapping, relationship in closed position.

A further object is to provide al closure for refrigerator cars embodying inner and outer hinged doors, the combined thickness of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the car wall.

A further Objectis to provide a closure for refrigerator cars embodying inner and outer hinged doors, the outer door being effective during its closing movement to apply pressure against the inner door to compress sealing means disposed between the inner door and the door frame to seal the door opening.

A further object is to provide inner and outer hinge doors for refrigerator cars, and perimetrically disposed means for sealing the door open ing in which said doors are received.

A further object is to provide inner and outer hinged doors for refrigerator cars comprised of a plurality of hinged sections, the joints formed 35 by said sections being offset longitudinally relative to each other.

A further object is to provide inner and outer hinged doors for refrigerator cars comprised of a plurality of hinged sections and in which the sec- 4 tions of the doors are interlocked so that the doors function as a unitary member to resist stresses created by the weaving of the car in transit.

A further object is to provide closures for refrigerator cars and the like, including inner and outer doors hinged at opposite edges to the car, the doors being secured to the car by fastening the free edge of the outer door to the hinged edge of the inner door.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as thevdescription thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification Y Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing (Cl. .Z-21) one application of the invention to a refrigerator car;

Figure 2 is aY horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the doors in open position;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 'I-'I of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral I0 designates a portion of a side of a container illustrated as of the refrigerating type. The side Il] is provided with a door opening II defined by the header I2, front and rear door posts I3 and I4 and a horizontal member I5, extending between the lower portions of the front and rear posts. The members thus enumerated provide a door frame adapted to receive the door structure of the instant invention designated in its entirety by the reference numeral I S.

The door structure of the instant invention embodies an inner door I1 comprised preferably of hinged sections I8 and I 9 and an outer door 20 comprised preferably of hinged sections 2| and 22. The sections I8 and I9 of the inner door are secured together by a plurality of hinges 23, While the sections 2| and 22 of the outer door are hinged together by a plurality of hinges 24. The section 2I of the outer door 2U is hinged at one end as indicated at 25 to the siding I0. The section I9 of the inner door I'I is hinged at the opposite side of the door opening to the siding I0 as indicated at 25. To permit the hinging of the section I9 of the inner `door to the siding it is preferred to stop the section 22 of the outer door short of the framing member I4 so that the hinged margin of the section I9 may be extended between the free edge of the section 22 and the framing member I4, such margin preferably extending outwardly to the plane of the outer face of the door ZI). It will thus be apparent that the inner and outer doors are hinged at opposite margins to the siding. It will be` clear, furthermore, from a consideration of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that the hinges 23 and 24 are offset longitudinally relative to each other Vso as to present a tortuous path which must be followed by the elements in order to gain entry into the car at the joints between the several sections. The joints between these sections are additionally made weather tight by the provision of weather or sealing strips 21 disposed between the meeting edges of the sections to provide a tight joint. These sealing strips may be secured in position within rabbeted portions 28 of the meeting edges of the door sections preferably by means of canvas strips 29.

In vorder to provide tight sealing engagement between the inner door I1 and the framing members I2, I3, I4 and I5 it is preferred to provide such framing members with inclined longitudinal extensions 30, 3 I, 32 and 33 against which weather strips 34 are adapted to abut in the closed position of the inner door. 'I'he hinged edge of the inner door may be sealed, additionally, by means of the engagement between a weather strip 35 and the adjacent framing member I4.

Sealing engagement between the outer door an-d the framing members may be obtained by means of the engagement between the weather strips 36 and such framing members, as clearly appears from Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. In addition to the foregoing sealing arrangement it is preferred to provide a sealing strip 31 which may be secured to the free end of the section 22 of the outer door and engage the section I9 of the inner door in the closed position of said doors. The mode of fastening all such sealing strips may be the same as that described for the securement of the sealing strips 21.

The instant invention contemplates the associ` ation of the inner and outer doors in such manner as to create a pressure against the inner door I1 in order to insure tight sealing engagement between the weather strips provided between said door and the framing members. To this end the section 2I of the outer door 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced protuberances 38 dispose-d preferably adjacent the hinged edge of the door section. Similarly, the section 22 of the outer door is provided with a plurality of spaced protuberances 39 disposed preferably adjacent the joints between the two door sections. tuberances 38 are adapted to engage plate members 40 provided on the section I8 of the inner door I1, while the protuberances 39 are adapted to engage plate members 4I provided on the section I9 of the inner door, thereby eliminating wear upon such sections.

In the closing of the doors the inner door I1 will be swung to cl-osed position whereupon the outer door 2U will be swung toward closed position. During such swinging movement of the outer door the protuberances 38 and 39 will engage the plate members 49 and 4I prior to the fully closed position of the outer door and, consequently, exert a pressure against the sections I8 and I9 of the inner door in order to insure tight engagement between the weather strips provided on the inner door and the door framing members. Such pressure may be maintained by a latching mechanism indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 42 which may comprise a hasp member 43, through which arstaple 44 provided on a plate member 45, may extend and a locking bolt 46 carried by the plate member an-d extending in latching position through the staple 44. A seal (not shown) may be utilized to prevent unauthorized release of the latching member. It will thus be apparent that with a relatively simple and inexpensive latching mechanism the doors may be latched together so as to maintain the The propressure exerted by the outer door upon the inner door and that such latching mechanism will be effective independently of any securement to the siding I0.

If desired additional means may be provi-ded in order to maintain the pressure relationship between the inner and outer doors. Such means may take the form of abutment castings 41 and 48 secured, respectively, to the car side above and below the door opening I I and detent castings 49 and 50 secured, respectively, to the upper and lower Vmargins of the door section 22 of the outer door. In the closing movement of the outer door 20 the cooperating pairs of abutment and detent members 41-49 and 48--50 will be brought into engagement by the swinging movement of the door section 22 toward closed position, thereby effecting engagement between the cooperating lips 5I and 52 of said pairs of abutment and detent members.

As clearly appears from Figures 2, 6 and 8, the plate members 4!) and 4I are formed so vas to provide indentures 53 and 54 in order to provide for the reception in such indentures of the protuberances 38 and 39. By virtue of this association between the plate indentures 53 and 54 and the protuberances 38 and 39 interengagement between the sections of the inner and outer doors is obtained whereby such doors are caused to act as a unitary member in offering resistance to the weaving stresses normally set up in the siding III during transit.

The indentures 53 and 54 provi-ded in the plate members 40 and 4I are formed so as to present an open end and upwardly and downwardly ilaring lip portions 55 and 56 at said end. 'I'he protuberances 40 and, 4I enter into the indentures 53 and 54 through these open ends and in the event of sagging of the outer door upon the hinges 25 such protuberances will engage the downwardly flaring lip portions of the indentures and exert a straightening force upon said door. Similarly, should sagging of the inner door upon its hinges occur the protuberances 4l] and 4I .will engage the upwardly flaring lip portions of the indentures in the closing movement of the outer door and effect a straightening of said inner door.

As noted hereinbefore, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in association with a siding of the refrigerator type which may constitute the siding of a refrigerator car. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this type of siding or car but may be utilized in an L. C. L. container as well or, in fact, in any receptacle or container.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, `that all such modications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A door structure comprising an outer hinged door, an inner hinged door, said doors being hinged respectively at opposite margins to the door frame with which they are associated, the hinged margin of said inner door projecting outwardly across the free edge of said outer door and terminating substantially in the plane of the outer face of said outer door.

2. A door structure comprising an outer hinged door having a plurality of hinged sections, an inner hinged door having a plurality of hinged sections, the joints between the sections of said doors being staggered, said doors being hinged respectively at opposite margins, the hinged margin of said inner door projecting outwardly across the free edge of said outer door and terminating substantially in the plane of the outer face of said outer door.

3. In a freight carrier having a door frame defining a door opening, a closure for said opening comprising an inner door hinged at one margin to said frame so as to swing outwardly, said door extending across said door opening and laterally abutting against said door frame, an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said frame so as to swing outwardly and means for securing the free margin of said outer door to the hinged margin of said inner door independently of said carrier.

4. In a carrier or receptacle having a wall provided with a door frame, a closure for said frame, said ciosure comprising an inner door hinged at one margin to said wall, said door extending across and having lateral bearing engagement with said frame and an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said wall, said outer door being effective to exert pressure laterally against said inner door to force said latter door tightly against the door frame and means for securing said outer door in its pressure exerting position.

5. In a carrier or receptacle having a wall provided with a door lrame, a closure for said frame, said closure comprising an inner door hinged at o-ne margin to said wall, said door extending across and having lateral bearing engagement with said frame and an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said wall, said outer door being effective to exert pressure laterally against said inner door to force said latter door tightly against the door frame, sealing strips disposed between each of said doors and said frame, a sealing strip disposed between said inner and outer doors, said sealing strips between said inner door and said frame being compressed by the closing movement of said cuter door and means for securing lsaid outer door in its pressure exerting position.

6. In a carrier or receptacle having a wall provided with a door frame, a closure for said frame, said closure comprising an inner door hinged at :one margin to said wall and having lateral bearing engagement with said frame and an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said wall, a plurality of spaced plates vsecured to one of said doors, a plurality of correspondingly spaced protuberances secured to the other of said doors, n

said protuberances and plates being engageable for exerting pressure against said inner door in the closing movement o said outer door to force the former tightly against the door frame and means for securing said outer door in closed position.

7. In a carrier or receptacle having a door opening, a closure for said opening comprising an inner door, hinged at one margin to said carrier, an outer door havingshingedly connected sections hinged to said carrier at the opposite margin, protuberances provided on one of said sections of said outer door engageable with said inner door adjacent the free margin thereof, protuberances provided on the other of said sections adjacent the hinged connection with said rst section engageable with said inner door, said protuberances being engaged with and exerting pressure upon said inner door by the closing movement of said outer door and means 'for maintaining said outer door in pressure exerting position.

8. Inl a freight carrier having a door opening, a closure for Vsaid opening comprising an inner door hinged at one margin so as to swing outwardly, an outer door hinged at the opposite margin so as to swing outwardly, the opposing faces of said doors being provided with plates having indentures and protuberances adapted to be received in said indentures, said indentures having an open end and providing flaring lips at such end for the purpose set forth.

9. In a freight carrier having a door frame dening a door opening, a closure for said opening comprising an inner door, hinged at one margin to said frame so as to swing outwardly, said door extending across said door opening and laterally abutting against said door frame, an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said frame so as to swing outwardly, said outer door in its swinging movement to closed position engaging and exerting an inw-ard pressure upon said inner door and means for securing said doors together independently of said carrier to maintain said pressure.

10. In a carrier orreceptacle having a wall, a door frame in said wall dening a door opening, said frame having abutments directed toward said opening, a closure for said frame, said closure comprising an inner door hinged at one margin to said wall, said door in its closed position exn tending across said frame with its inner face bearing against said frame abutments, an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said wall, said outer door being associated with said inner door in the closed position thereof to exert lateral pressure against said inner door to force the lat- ,ter tightly against said frame abutments, and limeans for securing said outer door in its pressure exerting position.

11. In a carrier or receptacle having a wall provided with a door frame, a closure for said frame, said closure comprising an inner door lying within said frame in closed position and hinged at one margin to said wall, said door extending across and having lateral bearing engagement with said frame, and an outer door hinged at the opposite margin to said wall, said outer door being eiective to exert pressure laterally against said inner door to force said latter door tightly against the door frame, and means for securing said outer door in its pressure exerting position.

WILFRED A. BEAUCHAMP. 

